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Organic Chemistry

Addition polymerisation

  • 3 things to know
  • Paper 2

Overview

Alkenes as monomers for addition polymerisation, poly(ethene) and poly(propene), what monomers and polymers are, how the double bond opens to join monomers into a single product, the repeating unit and why it matches the monomer, and recognising monomers and polymer chains from their structures.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

What is a monomer?

Key term

What is a polymer?

Key term

Describe what happens in an addition polymerisation reaction.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Which type of hydrocarbon is used as the monomer in addition polymerisation?

    Model answer

    Alkenes.

  2. 2

    Name the polymer made from ethene by addition polymerisation.

    Model answer

    Poly(ethene).

  3. 3

    Which alkene is used to make poly(propene)?

    Model answer

    Propene.

  4. 4

    What is a monomer?

    Model answer

    A monomer is a small molecule that joins with many others to form a polymer.

  5. 5

    What is a polymer?

    Model answer

    A polymer is a very large molecule made by joining together many small monomer molecules.

  6. 6

    Describe what happens in an addition polymerisation reaction.

    Model answer

    Many small monomer molecules containing a carbon–carbon double bond join together to form one very large molecule, and nothing else is produced.

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